Iga Swiatek, who has secured six Grand Slam titles, expressed that she might need to forgo certain required competitions to safeguard her well-being, particularly after several players sustained injuries at the China Open.
The Polish athlete, currently ranked second globally, advanced to the round of 16 in Beijing after her opponent from Colombia, Camila Osorio, had to withdraw due to an injury before the second set began. Swiatek had won the first set with a score of 6-0.
That marked one of five matches in China on Monday that did not reach completion. Lois Boisson and Zheng Qinwen also experienced injuries on the court, while Lorenzo Musetti and Jakub Mensik retired from their respective matches in the men’s tournament.
Commencing the previous year, the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) mandated that leading players participate in every Grand Slam event, 10 WTA 1,000 events (including Beijing), and six tournaments at the 500 level.
However, Swiatek, aged 24, cautioned that she might need to incorporate breaks into her schedule to prioritize her health.
“It’s practically impossible to fit everything into the schedule,” the former world number one stated. “I might have to selectively choose which tournaments to participate in and skip others, even if they are obligatory.”
“We need to be strategic about this and, unfortunately, prioritize our health over strictly adhering to the rules.”
The frequency of matches in the tennis calendar has been a prominent topic of discussion in recent years. Players like Novak Djokovic have reduced their tournament participation as they approach the end of their careers.
Swiatek described the requirements as “quite intense” for top-tier players, noting that “athletes tend to experience increased fatigue” during the latter part of the season.
“I’m uncertain about the trajectory of my career in the coming years,” she added. “For now, having committed to playing in all the mandatory tournaments, my focus is on taking care of my body and ensuring proper recovery.”
“The Asian swing represents the most challenging segment, as you sense the season nearing its end but still need to exert maximum effort.”
“Indeed, there are numerous injuries, stemming from the excessive length and intensity of the season.”
